"He stands up and he says he wants less negativity and then launches a ferocious negative attack on the Opposition and its leader," he said.

But Mr Rudd, who was campaigning in the Blue Mountains this morning, says he stands by everything he said.

Indonesian foreign affairs spokesman Teuku Faizasyah would not be drawn on Mr Rudd's suggestion, saying it is a matter that the Prime Minister can discuss during his talks.

Indonesia to welcome Rudd visit

Former ambassador to Indonesia Richard Woolcott, who is also a former head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), told AM that Indonesian politicians are unlikely to be as concerned about the asylum seeker issue as Australian politicians are.

He says Indonesia is already dealing with so many of its own issues and problems, and the issue of asylum seekers is a much less important one.

"The Indonesians I think will not want to involve themselves in our domestic politics of course," he said.

"They are, by nature, careful and polite in the way they handle issues.

"On the other hand, I think they'll be anxious to receive Mr Rudd. He's well-known in Indonesia. I think it's important and sensible that he's going ahead with the visit."

Surge in asylum seeker numbers likely, UN says

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Dr Jeff Crisp, says there is likely to be a surge in the number of refugees around the world, regardless of government policy.

"The number of new refugees being created is now at a higher level that at any time in almost 20 years," he said.

"I regret to say that in 2013, because of the ongoing Syria conflict, the figure is going to be much higher indeed."

From an international perspective, it's not always easy for us to understand the degree of concern and even panic which is sometimes expressed by the public and by politicians in Australia.

Dr Jeff Crisp

He says the international community is largely surprised that Australia is so concerned about asylum seeker numbers.

"We recognise that the numbers have gone up in recent years, particularly in Australia, but they've gone up much less quickly than the numbers have gone up in developing middle-income countries," he said.

"I come from the UK, and I've worked in Europe for many years, and to be very honest it's quite difficult for those of us from other parts of the world to quite understand the intense political level to which the asylum issue in Australia has risen in recent years.

"Clearly, there has been an increase in numbers, but... from an international perspective, it's not always easy for us to understand the degree of concern and even panic which is sometimes expressed by the public and by politicians in Australia."